H.S. Baseball: Collins, Lions blank Vernon for victory

VERNON — Ethan Collins threw five shutout innings and Axel D'Addario hit a home run to lead Pope John's baseball team past Vernon, 4-0, on Tuesday at Vernon High School.

Collins allowed only three hits and one walk while fanning five before giving way to Jack Nelson, who pitched the final two innings. At the plate, D'Addario gave Collins and the Lions its four-run lead after hitting a solo homer in the top of the fourth.

D'Addario finished 1-for-3. Mike Young added two hits and an RBI and Conner Kopnick also recorded two hits for the Lions, who are playing Bernards today in one more tune-up game before they meet DePaul in the first round of the Non-Public, North A tournament on Friday.